Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BICYCLE SEAT FOR IMPROVED COMFORT, PERFORMANCE, AND
SAFETY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELAYED APPLICATIONS
[00011 This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
63/083,875 filed on September 26, 2020, which is incorporated by reference for
all purposes.
US Patent Application Publication 2020/0102033, published on April 2, 2020,
entitled
"Bicycle Seats," is also incorporated by reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[00021 The disclosed embodiments generally relate to sporting equipment and
more
specifically to bicycle seats.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Bicycle saddles (e.g., seats) receive a significant portion of the
body's weight while
cycling, but unfortunately current designs do not suit most cyclists' anatomy,
resulting in
discomfort, restricted blood flow, bruising in sensitive areas, and may even
lead to permanent
damage. Much of the body's weight while cycling rests on the ischial
tuberosities, aka IT'S or
sit-bones. These bony protrusions vary in width between people, meaning that
even if a bike
seat is designed to provide sufficient cushioning, it likely will not fit the
rider's individual
anatomy. Most riders resort to purchasing and using a chamois short - a padded
and wicking
garment meant to protect the cyclist from the saddle. Thus, there is need for
an adaptable
bicycle seat form that better fits the user's anatomy while still ensuring a
full range of motion
for the cyclist.
SUMMARY
[00041 The bicycle seat described herein has multiple regions constructed to
support the
body. These regions include ischial tuberosity (IT) regions for relieving
pressure on the IT
bones as well as a flexible forward edge to conform to a rider's anatomy.
These regions
provide a variety of supports to avoid excess pressure on any one area of the
rider's anatomy.
The bicycle seat design described may be adjustable or have interchangeable
parts to allow a
use to customize the fit to their personal anatomy.
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[0005] The seat is suitable for any pedal-powered vehicle and comprises a
support frame, a
seat element and a nose. The seat element and the nose are implemented as
separate
components that are supported by the support frame. The seat element is
configured to
support at least a portion of a rider's weight. The seat element carries a
pressure-relieving
region that is configured to be located at a location corresponding to an
ischial tuberosity (IT)
bone of the rider, thereby relieving pressure exerted on the IT bones of the
rider.
[0006] The features and advantages described in this summary and the following
detailed
description are not all-inclusive. Many additional features and advantages
will be apparent to
one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and
claims hereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle seat, according to some
embodiments.
[0008] FIG. 2A is a top-view illustration of a bicycle seat with IT regions,
according to some
embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 2B is a top-view illustration of another bicycle seat, according
to some
embodiments
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side-view illustration of the bicycle seat with IT regions,
according to
some embodiments.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an illustration of upright and aerodynamic positions for
riding a bicycle and
of the skeletal structure of the body showing the IT bones resting on a
bicycle seat.
[0012] FIG. 5 an illustration of previous bicycle seat designs.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an illustration of further pressure relieving components of
the bicycle seats,
according to some embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an illustration of interchangeable portions of the bicycle
seat, according to
some embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a side-view illustration of the bicycle seat with flexible
forward edge,
according to some embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of the bicycle seat with a
spring-supported
flexible forward edge, according to some embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a top and bottom view of a support frame of the bicycle
seat.
[0018] The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for
purposes of
illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the
following description
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that other alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated
herein may be
employed without departing from the principles of the invention described
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The figures (FIGs.) and the following description relate to preferred
embodiments by
way of illustration only. One of skill in the art may recognize alternative
embodiments of the
structures and methods disclosed herein as viable alternatives that may be
employed without
departing from the principles of what is disclosed.
[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples
of which are
illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that, wherever
practicable, similar or like
reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like
functionality.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for
purposes of
illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the
following description
that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein
may be
employed without departing from the principles described herein.
[0021] This bicycle saddle design addresses rider discomfort and relieves
potentially harmful
pressure with one or more features including, but not limited to: IT regions
with targeted
pressure relieving geometry to accommodate IT movements while providing soft
cushioning,
a flexible forward edge, and an adjustable width for variations in hip width
and IT location.
The described bicycle seat design may include any one or more features
described herein.
[0022] The bicycle seat design is described below in reference to a series of
figures. The
embodiments of the seat and seat elements shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-10 may
represent the
same seat or a variety of possible configurations of the seat.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example bicycle seat 100, in
accordance with some
embodiments. The bicycle seat 100 may be coupled, via a support frame 125, to
a pedal-
powered vehicle such as a bicycle or unicycle. The bicycle seat 100 may be
used in other
pedal-powered vehicles such as tricycles, unicycles, aircrafts, paddle boats,
hydrocycles, and
the like. Pedal-powered vehicles described herein also include stationary
equipment such as
gym bicycles, exercise bicycles, athlete training bicycles and other indoor
bicycles. The
support frame 125 may carry attachment regions on which the bicycle seat 100
may be
mounted to the support frame 125, and on which the support frame 125 can be
mounted to the
bicycle body. In some embodiments, the bicycle seat 100 may include one or
more seat
elements 110/115 and a nose 130. As shown in FIG. 1, the bicycle seat 100 has
two seat
elements, a first seat element 110 and a second seat element 115. The two seat
elements are
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implemented as separate components that are symmetrical. In other embodiments,
bicycle
seat 100 may have only one seat element, while some embodiments may have more
than two.
The seat elements 110/115 support at least part of, the majority of, or the
entirety of the
weight of a rider. The nose 130 provides balancing and allows for a full range
of motion of
the rider. In some embodiments, the seat elements 110/115 and the nose 130 are
implemented as separate components and may be connected to the support frame
125. In
various embodiments, the seat elements 1110/115 may be implemented in any
suitable
manner, singular or paired, symmetrical or irregular, integrated or removable.
[0024] In some embodiments, the seat elements 110/115 include one or more
pressure-
relieving regions that may be referred to as ischial tuberosity (IT) regions
105. The seat
elements 110/115 and the IT regions 105 may be configured such that the IT
regions 105
have lower spring constant than that of the seat elements 110/115. The
difference in spring
constants between the IT regions 105 and the seat elements 110/115 allows the
IT regions
105 to act as cushions to reduce pressure exerted on the IT bones. For
example, the seat
element may be constructed of dense foam while the IT regions 105 may be
constructed of
less dense foam that collapses more readily under pressure.
[0025] The seat 100 may additionally have a raised rear portion 120 associated
with each seat
element 110/115. The raised rear portion 120 may improve the stability and
support of the
rider by providing more surface area on which the body of the rider contacts
the seat 100. The
additional surface area also allows for further distribution of the weight of
the rider to
decrease high pressure on the IT bones.
[0026] FIG. 2A is a top view of the bicycle seat 200, in accordance with some
embodiments.
The IT regions 205 may be incorporated into any bicycle seat design. The IT
regions 205
may be an embodiment of the IT regions 105 of the seat 100 shown in FIG. 1.
The seat 200
features two seat elements 225. In some embodiments the seat elements 225 may
be mounted
on an adjustment mechanism that allows for their orientation of position to be
changes. For
example, a rider may be able to adjust the width between the seat elements 225
such that the
IT regions 205 are aligned comfortably with the personal anatomy of the rider.
The
embodiment of FIG. 2A further includes a flexion region 220. The portions of
the seat within
the flexion region 220 are configured to be flexible and bend to conform to
the rider. The
flexion region 220 includes the flexible forward edge 215. The seat elements
225 may
include a raised rear portion similar to the raised rear portion 120 of FIG.
1. The raised rear
portion offers additional surface area for support of the rider. In some
embodiments, the area
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between the forward edges 215 and nose 210 may be curved or otherwise formed
to create a
clearance for the personal anatomy of the rider.
[0027] FIG. 2B is a top view of another bicycle seat 230, in accordance with
some
embodiments. The seat 230 is configured in the form of a traditional bicycle
seat in a single
piece. As such, the seat 230 lacks the flexion region 220 of seat 200. While
the IT regions
205 in some embodiments are shown to be two separate pockets, in other
embodiments, such
as the seat 230 shown in FIG. 2B, the IT region 205 may be implemented as a
single piece.
In the single IT region 205 embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the IT region 205 may
also
provide pressure relief for the tail bone of the rider and be preferable to
some riders. The
composition of the IT regions 205 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B may be the same
or
different. In some embodiments, while the seat 230 is implemented as a single
piece, the seat
element may include a pair of IT regions 205 at suitable locations that
correspond to the
locations of the IT bones of the rider.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a conceptual side view of a bicycle seat 100 having an IT
region 305,
according to some embodiments. The area where the IT bones 300 of the rider
meet the seat
is the location of the IT region 305, in some embodiments. The IT region 305
may be softer
and more easily conformed to than the rest of the seat element 310, which
allows pressure
relief for the IT bones 300. The IT region 305 includes a cushioning material
such as an
elastomer, foam, gel, other materials, or combinations thereof. The IT region
305 is
embedded in or attached to the seat element 310. The seat element 310 is
coupled to a pedal
powered vehicle such as a bike via a support frame 315. The seat element 310
may be made
of a rigid material such that it is firmer than the IT region 305. A forward
edge 320 of the seat
element 310 may be flexible such that as the legs of the rider move to pedal,
the forward edge
320 bends to conform to their movement. With the exception of the forward edge
320, the
seat element 310 is firm and/or stationary to provide stability.
User Anatomy and Current Designs of Bicycle Seats
[0029] On a traditional bicycle, the saddle (also referred to as the "seat")
is affixed to a seat
post of the bicycle and the weight of the rider is distributed between the
handlebars, pedals,
and seat. Throughout the cycle of rotation of the pedals, the body's weight
will shift,
transferring force to the pedals. Other functions such as braking and steering
also require the
rider to use their weight for balancing and altering the motion of the
bicycle. Seats must
allow for these different movements without restricting the rider.
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[0030] The seat receives the cyclist's weight predominantly on their ischial
tuberosities
(referred to as IT's, IT bones, or sit-bones). These bony protrusions are part
of the pelvis,
and the origin point of the hamstrings. The IT bones are typically wider in
females than in
males and individual variances in width may be as much as or more than 8cm.
Individuals
often have difficulty finding a saddle that suits their anatomy, and an ill-
fitting saddle may
lead to discomfort or pain.
[0031] FIG. 4 is an illustration of upright and aerodynamic positions for
riding a bicycle and
of the skeletal structure of the body showing the IT bones resting on a seat
element 410.
Cyclists typically ride in an upright position 415 or lean forward into a more
aerodynamic
position 420. In the upright position 415 the rider's weight is on their ITs.
When the rider
switches to the aerodynamic position 420 their weight shifts forward and may
partially rest
on the pubic bone, or perineal area. Pressure in this area may result in rider
injury such as
genital numbness, inflammation, and even more serious conditions such as
impotence and
infertility. Because the IT bones 405 are the main contact point of the body
with the scat
element 410, they are areas of high pressure that may cause pain to the rider.
As such, the IT
regions shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are configured to re-distribute pressure
from supporting
the rider away from the IT bones and spread the pressure more evenly over the
rider's
buttocks so that no one area experiences excessive pressure.
[0032] FIG. 5 includes illustrations of previous bicycle seat designs. The
common seat
design is shaped to have a wide, cushioned area at the rear to receive the
rider's weight and a
narrow area in the front to allow the freedom of motion in the leg necessary
for pedaling. To
ensure a full range of motion, the surface area of the seat is limited, which
limits the amount
of support available for rider weight. Some designs, as seen on the bottom
right of FIG. 5, are
configured to flex or move with the rider, but still have areas of high
pressure
[0033] The primary source of discomfort for cyclists is high pressure
localized on a small and
sensitive portion of the rider's buttocks. High pressure is common on the IT'
s as much of the
rider's weight is focused on the point created by the bones' structure. The
rider's weight
resting on the IT' s may also apply pressure to the origin of the hamstring
muscles and cause
damage. This pressure may move across the seat as the rider moves to pedal.
High pressure
traveling across the seat can result in shear forces, rubbing, and discomfort
for the rider.
[0034] As described above, pelvis width may vary among cyclists. If a person
with a wide
pelvis rides a narrow seat, they are more likely to put pressure on their
tailbone, perineum, or
soft tissues, which can result in soreness and damage. Though some seats are
available with
adjustable widths, many cyclists are unable to tune the width to suit their
own anatomy.
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Furthermore, seeking profession fitting advice can be costly and beyond the
reach of many
casual cyclists.
Further Design Considerations
[00351 FIG. 6 includes illustrations of various pressure relieving components
configurations
of bicycle seats, according to some embodiments. The pressure relieving
regions
corresponding to the rider's IT may be implemented in different forms and
configurations.
[00361 In some embodiments, the seat element 620 may include an indented
region 625 at the
IT region 610, which may correspond to the rider's IT. The seat element 620
may be
enclosed by a cover 605 that is tensionably coupled to the support frame 615
and covering a
portion of the seat element 620 that includes at least the pressure-reliving
IT region 610. The
cover 605 at the indented region 625 may form a hammock-like configuration
that supports
the weight of the rider like a sling. The cover 605 may take the form of a
textile that
stretches across the seat element 620. When the cover 605 is stretched over
the indented
region, an empty space 635 is formed. As shown in FIG. 6, in some embodiments
the empty
space 635 may contain an IT region 610.
[0037] In various embodiments, the IT region 610 may correspond to the empty
space 635
and may take various forms. In some embodiments, the empty space 635 may be
filled with
gel, foam, elastomer, or encapsulated air to form a cushioned IT region 610.
In some
embodiments, the empty space may be left empty and the IT region 610 may be
formed
simply by the tension of the cover 605, thus preventing the IT bones from
contacting the seat
element 620 or lessening the amount of pressure between the IT bones and seat
element 620.
The cover 605 material may be attached around the edges of the IT region 610
or underneath
the seat with a tensioning mechanism allowing for adjustment to comfort and
personal
preference. The cover 605 material may include fabric, plastic, silicon, or
elastomer. The
cover 605 material may have some stretch to conform to the user's anatomy and
distribute
forces over the entire contact area while also providing support.
[0038] In other embodiments, the IT region 610 may be filled with an elastomer
630 having
a three-dimensional reticulated structure. The elastomer 630 may be configured
such that it
has a lower spring constant in the center than at the edges such that the
elastomer 630 will
conform to the user and not collapse. For example, the grid-like geometry of
the elastomer
630 may densify at the edges and have a gradient of density that lowers toward
the center of
the elastomer 630. The gradient of density may provide a smooth transition
between the IT
region 610 and the seat element 620. In some embodiments, the IT region 610
may be
comprised of a material other than the elastomer that has a similar gradient
of density. The
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material of the IT region 610 further offers shear force relief as the IT
travels by collapsing or
stretching with the motion of the rider. The material of the IT region 610 has
a low hysteresis
so that it may offer continuous support over time.
[0039] FIG. 7 is an illustration of interchangeable portions of the bicycle
seat, according to
some embodiments. In some embodiments, the seat element may be made up of
multiple
interchangeable parts The modularized seat element may include a back portion
735, a mid
portion 710, and a front portion 730. The back portion 735, mid portion 710,
and front
portion 730 may be supported by the frame 740 and each be removably coupled to
the frame
740. The portions of the seat element may be interchangeable such that the
rider can choose
their preferred fit. The portions of the seat element may also be made up of
different
materials such that the rider can choose some sections of the seat to be
firmer than others.
The mid portion 710 may have a slot 725 into which inserts 715 can be placed.
Each insert
715 may have an IT region having a different shape and size such that a rider
can choose
which insert 715 conforms best to their body. In some embodiments the slot 725
may be
filled by an elastomer 705 having a three dimensional reticulated structure
that acts as a
pressure relieving region. In some embodiments the forward edge (front portion
730) is
comprised of foam while the rear portion 735 is rigid and the mid-region 710
carries a
pressure-relieving region. In some embodiments, the back portion 735 may have
a raised rear
portion as seen in FIG. 1 to increase the surface area of the overall seat
element
[0040] The IT regions 715 may be designed modularly such that no adhesive is
necessary to
couple the IT region to the mid portion 710 and the IT regions 715 may be
interchangeable.
The IT regions may have attachment fittings such as snap-ons to removably
couple them to
the mid portion 710. In some embodiments the IT region 715 may be coupled to
other
portions of the seat element.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a side-view illustration of the bicycle seat with flexible
forward edge,
according to some embodiments. The bicycle seat of FIG. 8 may be an embodiment
of the
seat element 310 of FIG. 3 having a flexible forward edge 805. The majority of
the seat
element 310 is rigid with the exception of the forward edge 805. In some
embodiments, the
entire seat element 310 may be rigid but have a hinge such that the forward
edge 805 can
move with the rider. The flexible forward edge 805 is configured with a
variable
displacement such that the forward edge forms a curvature conforming to the
rider. In some
embodiments, the flexible forward edge 805 may be split such that one half of
the flexible
forward edge, a first seat element, moves with the right leg of the rider
while the other half, a
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second seat element, moves with the left leg of the rider. In this embodiment
the seat
elements are configured to flex independently responsive to the motion of the
legs of the
rider.
[00421 This forward edge 805, is sufficiently stiff to provide support so that
the rider does not
slide off or get pitched forward, but also flexible enough to bend when the
leg extends to
push pedals. The forward edge returns to its original shape when the cyclist's
leg is not
applying pressure, providing energy recovery. The flexible forward edge may be
composed
of a spring like mechanism of a material such as steel, elastomers, plastic,
and others, or it
may be a linkage connecting the forward edges of the two sides of the bike
seat, using the
cyclist's own opposing movements. Such a mechanism may be designed with a
variable
displacement or spring stiffness along the flexible forward edge to provide
optimal comfort.
[00431 FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of the bicycle seat with a
spring-supported
flexible front edge 905, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments,
the material
of the flexible forward edge 905 itself is not flexible, but the support of
the forward edge 905
may be compressible such that the forward edge 905 moves with the rider. For
example, the
forward edge 905 may be made of a rigid material to provide support that
conforms to the
rider. The forward edge 905 is supported by a spring 910 associated with the
seat element. As
the weight of the rider shifts forward the spring 910 may compress to lower
the forward edge
905 and extend when the rider restores their position. The nose 915 is
configured to be rigid
such that the forward pitch of the forward edge 905 does not cause instability
to the rider. The
nose 915 may be used to provide balance and support.
[00441 FIG. 10 is atop and bottom view of a support frame of the bicycle seat.
In some
embodiments, the support frame is configured to allow for adjustment of
portions of the
bicycle seat. For example, the notch on the nose support portion 1005 may
allow for the
height of the nose of the seat to be adjusted. The seat element portions 1010
may slide along
rails 1015 to adjust the position or width of the rear portion of the seat
that supports the
weight of the rider. This allows the rider to adjust the location of the
pressure relieving
regions to correspond to the width of the IT bones of the rider. In some
embodiments, the seat
element portions 101 may be configured to pivot to further allow for
adjustability of the
orientation of the seat element and IT regions Other adjustment mechanisms may
he
incorporated to the support frame to allow for further adjustability of the
seat.
[00451 In some embodiments, a seat for a pedal-powered vehicle is disclosed.
The seat of the
pedal-powered vehicle includes a support frame, a seat element, and a nose. In
some
embodiments the seat element and the nose are implemented as separate
components, both of
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which are supported by the support frame. In some embodiments the seat element
is
configured to support at least part of a weight of a rider of the pedal-
powered vehicle. In
some embodiments, the seat element carries a pressure-relieving region that is
configured to
be located at a location corresponding to an ischial tuberosity (IT) of the
rider, thereby
relieving pressure exerted on the IT's of the rider.
[0046] In some embodiments, the seat element carries a cushion material that
has a first
spring constant, and the pressure-relieving region has a second spring
constant less than the
first spring constant.
[0047] In some embodiments, the seat element is a first seat element and the
seat includes a
second seat element. The first and second seat elements are implemented as
separate
components.
[0048] In some embodiments, the pedal-powered vehicle is a bicycle
[0049] In some embodiments, the pressure-relieving insert includes an
elastomer, foam, gel,
or some combination thereof.
[0050] In some embodiments, the pressure-relieving insert includes a three-
dimensional
reticulated stricture.
[0051] In some embodiments, the seat additionally includes a cover that is
tensionably
coupled to the seat element The cover covers a portion of the seat element
that includes at
least the pressure-relieving region
[0052] In some embodiments, the cover and the seat element form an enclosed
area, and the
enclosed area is filled with air or gel
[0053] In some embodiments, the support frame is adjustable to adjust the
location of the
pressure-relieving region.
[0054] In some embodiments, the support frame is adjustable for the width of
the rider's IT' s.
[0055] In some embodiments, the support frame is adjustable for the
orientation of the
pressure-relieving region.
[0056] In some embodiments, a rear portion of the seat element is rigid and a
forward edge of
the seat element is flexible.
[0057] In some embodiments, the forward edge is configured with a variable
displacement
such that the forward edge forms a curvature conforming to the rider.
[0058] In some embodiments, the seat element is configured with a spring under
the forward
edge.
[0059] In some embodiments, the first seat element and the second seat element
are each
configured to flex independently.
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[0060] In some embodiments, the forward edge includes foam, and the seat
element includes
a mid-region positioned between the rigid rear portion and the forward edge,
the mid-region
including a pressure-relieving region.
[0061] In some embodiments, the pressure-relieving regions are removably
attached to the
seat element such that the pressure-relieving regions can be interchanged with
other pressure-
relieving regions of a plurality of pressure-relieving regions.
[0062] In some embodiments, each pressure-relieving region is encompassed by a
larger
insert, the larger insert being modular and interchangeable with other larger
inserts.
[0063] In some embodiments, a bicycle is disclosed. The bicycle includes a
seat. The seat
includes a support frame, a seat element and a nose. In some embodiments, the
seat element
and the nose are implemented as separate components that are supported by the
support frame
and the seat element is configured to support at least part of a rider's
weight. In some
embodiments, the seat element carries a pressure-relieving region that is
configured to be
located at a location corresponding to an ischial tuberosity (IT) of the
rider, thereby relieving
pressure exerted on the rider's IT. In some embodiments, a body includes rigid
connectors
configured to connect and support at least a set of handlebars. The bicycle
also includes a
support frame, a set of pedals, and one or more wheels. In some embodiments,
the one or
more wheels are configured to rotate responsive to the set of pedals being
pushed.
[0064] In some embodiments, the seat element carries a cushion material that
has a first
spring constant and the pressure-relieving region has a second spring constant
less than the
first spring constant.
Additional Considerations
[0065] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for the
purpose of
illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the patent
rights to the precise forms
disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many
modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.
[0066] Any feature mentioned in one claim category, e.g., method, can be
claimed in another
claim category, e.g., computer program product, system, storage medium, as
well. The
dependencies or references back in the attached claims are chosen for formal
reasons only.
However, any subject matter resulting from a deliberate reference back to any
previous
claims (in particular multiple dependencies) can be claimed as well, so that
any combination
of claims and the features thereof is disclosed and can be claimed regardless
of the
dependencies chosen in the attached claims. The subject-matter may include not
only the
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combinations of features as set out in the disclosed embodiments but also any
other
combination of features from different embodiments. Various features mentioned
in the
different embodiments can be combined with explicit mentioning of such
combination or
arrangement in an example embodiment or without any explicit mentioning.
Furthermore,
any of the embodiments and features described or depicted herein may be
claimed in a
separate claim and/or in any combination with any embodiment or feature
described or
depicted herein or with any of the features.
[0067] Some portions of this description describe the embodiments in terms of
algorithms
and symbolic representations of operations on information. These operations
and algorithmic
descriptions, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are
understood to be
implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode,
or the like.
Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these
arrangements of
operations as engines, without loss of generality. The described operations
and their
associated engines may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any
combinations
thereof,
[0068] Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be
performed or
implemented with one or more hardware or software engines, alone or in
combination with
other devices. In one embodiment, a software engine is implemented with a
computer
program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer
program
code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all
of the steps,
operations, or processes described. The term "steps" does not mandate or imply
a particular
order. For example, while this disclosure may describe a process that includes
multiple steps
sequentially with arrows present in a flowchart, the steps in the process do
not need to be
performed by the specific order claimed or described in the disclosure. Some
steps may be
performed before others even though the other steps are claimed or described
first in this
disclosure. Likewise, any use of (i), (ii), (iii), etc., or (a), (b), (c),
etc. in the specification or in
the claims, unless specified, is used to better enumerate items or steps, and
also does not
mandate a particular order.
[0069] Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement
components,
operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual
operations of one
or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or
more of the
individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that
the
operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality
presented as
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13
separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined
structure
or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single
component may be
implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications,
additions,
and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. In
addition, the term
"each" used in the specification and claims does not imply that every or all
elements in a
group need to fit the description associated with the term -each." For
example, -each
member is associated with element A" does not always imply that all members
are associated
with an element A. Instead, the term "each" only implies that a member (of
some of the
members), in a singular form, is associated with an element A. In claims, the
use of a singular
form of a noun may imply at least one element even though a plural form is not
used.
[00701 Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally
selected for
readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to
delineate or
circumscribe the patent rights. It is therefore intended that the scope of the
patent rights be
limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue
on an application
based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be
illustrative,
but not limiting, of the scope of the patent rights.
CA 03193414 2023- 3- 21
